CHARLOTTE — Panthers head coach Dave Canales expressed his satisfaction with the team's ground game following their 36-22 win over the Raiders. Canales emphasized the importance of finishing games on the ground, which he described as his vision of Panthers football.
"I've got to talk about a group that took the challenge in the run game; we finished the game running the ball, which is my dream," Canales said. "It's my vision of Panthers football at its finest."
Canales praised quarterback Andy Dalton's performance but was particularly enthused by how they sustained drives and closed out the game with their running attack. The Panthers ran 31 times for 131 yards, averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
"It's Pete Carroll football. It was USC Trojans football. It was Seattle Seahawks football," he noted, referring to his coaching influences. "And how you show toughness as an offense is you run the football."
Canales confirmed Dalton's position as starting quarterback, stating, "He's our quarterback, he gives us our best chance to win." He declined to elaborate further on this decision.
In a lighter moment, cornerback Mike Jackson shared a story about his three-year-old daughter Ryann who motivated him before Sunday's game by saying, "Daddy let's get this money today." Jackson responded by securing his first interception since 2022.
The defense also had a strong showing against Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, limiting him to four receptions for 40 yards. Defensive backs coach Deangelo Hall acknowledged Adams' skill but challenged his players to not back down.
Linebacker Josey Jewell appreciated the offense's ability to sustain drives, reducing defensive fatigue compared to previous weeks where they were on the field significantly longer than the offense.
Canales did not provide updates on injuries sustained during Sunday's game but mentioned that more information would be available after further evaluations.
Alerts Sign-up